Tom Perriello out for Virginia governor

Tom Perriello announced Wednesday that he will not run for governor of Virginia next year.

The former Democratic congressman threw his support behind Democratic frontrunner Terry McAuliffe, clearing the way for an epic 2013 showdown between the former Democratic National Committee chairman and Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

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Flashback: POLITICO interview with Perriello

“No one has worked harder to prevent this extreme agenda from reaching the Governor’s mansion than Terry McAuliffe,” Perriello wrote in a statement posted on the “Blue Virginia” blog. “I hope that progressives and moderates can unite as Virginians choose between the worst of our past and the best of our future.”

Perriello considered running at the behest of liberals unenthused by McAuliffe, the longtime Bill Clinton consigliere who finished second in the 2009 Democratic primary for governor.

Instead, the progressive darling will stay on as president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, the advocacy arm of the top liberal think tank that he took over after losing his Charlottesville-area House seat in the 2010 midterms.

“I do not feel called to serve in elected office at this time, but I do not need to have my name on the ballot to be part of the fight,” he wrote.

In the three-paragraph announcement, Perriello explained that Democratic gains in last month’s elections prompted him to think seriously about a gubernatorial bid.

“When the people of Virginia re-elected Barack Obama and sent Tim Kaine to the Senate last month, it revived my deepest hopes that our political process is not broken and our country and Commonwealth are moving forward,” he said, describing himself as “touched by the outpouring of support.”

Perriello pledged that he will “continue to fight back against those who attack women’s rights, threaten scientists, and pursue an ideological austerity agenda that undermines desperately needed investments in infrastructure, education, and technology that help grow the middle class.”

McAuliffe welcomed the news with a quick statement.

“Throughout his life in public service, Tom Perriello has been a courageous and principled fighter for progressive values and one of our party’s best spokesmen on issues of economic fairness,” he said. “Virginia is extremely lucky to have a leader of Tom’s character and conviction and I look forward to working with him on mainstream solutions for job creation and common sense fiscal responsibility.”